§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what procedures are implemented before parties of patients from Broadmoor are allowed to go on day trips to seaside towns or other similar places; and if he will publish the regulations and procedures involved.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe procedures relating to such outings are set out in standing instructions to all staff concerned at the hospital. They are reviewed regularly. Publication of the instructions could prejudice rather than improve security. Escort staff are of course trained and experienced in working with the patients for whom they are responsible.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of the party comprising staff that accompany groups of patients from Broadmoor when they go on day trips to seaside towns and similar places.
§ Mr. WhitneyThis varies according to the needs of the patients and the circumstances of the outing.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is taken to inform the police when parties of patients from Broadmoor are taken out on day trips or longer periods to seaside towns and similar other places.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe staff escorting patients have the addresses and telephone numbers of the local police stations concerned. Should a patient abscond on an outing, standing instructions require staff to notify the police immediately and to stand by to give any assistance or information they might require.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day trip patients from 580W Broadmoor visited (a) East Sussex and (b) West Sussex in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and the latest figure for 1986; and which towns were included in the visits.
§ Mr. WhitneyFigures are not readily available for the years 1980 and 1981. Since then, the following day outings have been made:
East Sussex
- 1984: 1 outing to Brighton
West Sussex
- 1982: 3 outings to Littlehampton
- 1984: 1 outing to Chichester
- 1984: 1 outing to Worthing
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day-trip parties of patients from Broadmoor visited the Brighton and Hove area in (a) each year since 1980 and (b) 1986 to date; and what was the total number in each party.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation about day outings in 1980 and 1981 is not readily available. There was one outing to the Brighton and Hove area in the later period, to Brighton in 1984, when the party consisted of four patients and two escort staff. There have been no outings to the area this year.